Dakota Life heads to Union Center, South Dakota November 16th. Here is a preview of some of the stories you will find in the episode that premieres at 7 p.m. (8 Central) on SDPB TV-1, Facebook and YouTube. Plus, a look back at some of the past stories we have brought you on Dakota Life.
____________________________________
Much of the landscape of South Dakota today is made up of small towns and villages which had their beginnings as a direct result of the promise of free land offered by the homestead act of 1862. Between the 1860’s and the 1920’s, thousands of settlers poured in, first to Dakota Territory and then to the newly formed states of North and South Dakota. Some only stayed for a short time, finding the environment harsh and unforgiving. But many stayed strong, learned the ways of the land and stuck it out, putting down roots for themselves and their future descendants.
Towns and villages sprang up across the once barren landscape, providing gathering places for people to socialize, purchase and sell goods, go about their business and educate their children.
In the Middle of Meade County, along what is highway 34 today, sits a village that is a testament to the strength of the people who settled here. Starting out as a store and a cream station, with a school nearby, the village was formed in 1926 by the Meade County Farmers Union. Because the site was in the center of Meade county, they decided to call it Union Center.
Over the years, the village grew with the addition of a post office, a hall for community gatherings, several churches and a number of small businesses. Today, perhaps the most well known citizen to call Union Center home is South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden.
Besides the folks who live in the village, many ranch families consider Union Center their hometown. It’s where they come together to worship, cheer on their local sports teams, pick up their mail, spend their money buying supplies, or getting a haircut.
They may live in White Owl, Red Owl, Maurine, Atall, Stoneville, Fairpoint or a number of other nearby locations that at one time may have had stores, schools, post offices, and churches, but very few of those services of the past remain today.
In the Middle of Meade County, along what is highway 34 today, sits a village that is a testament to the strength of the people who settled here. Starting out as a store and a cream station, with a school nearby, the village was formed in 1926 by the Meade County Farmers Union. Because the site was in the center of Meade county, they decided to call it Union Center.
Over the years, the village grew with the addition of a post office, a hall for community gatherings, several churches and a number of small businesses. Today, perhaps the most well known citizen to call Union Center home is South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden.
Besides the folks who live in the village, many ranch families consider Union Center their hometown. It’s where they come together to worship, cheer on their local sports teams, pick up their mail, spend their money buying supplies, or getting a haircut. They may live in White Owl, Red Owl, Maurine, Atall, Stoneville, Fairpoint or a number of other nearby locations that at one time may have had stores, schools, post offices, and churches, but very few of those services of the past remain today.
An important thing in any sparsely populated area is a place for folks to gather. Curtis and Jessie Schwab, the owners of the original Union Center Store recognized this need, and in 1936, they built the Union Center Hall. The gathering place was to be used for community dances as a money making project. Dances were held every two weeks with a one dollar admission charge, a tidy sum in the 1930’s. Music was provided by local bands. The hall had a beer license and pool tables in the basement, but what started as a family affair had it’s issues, and because of problems with alcohol and fighting at the facility, the owners quit having the dances. Curtis died in 1945 and the next year, Jessie sold both he store and the dance hall. About that time, electricity was brought to town by West River Electric Association and the dance hall was reopened by new owners.
Both the store and the Hall went through a series of owners and by 1992, the community saw a need for a new place to gather as the Union Center Hall had, by that time, deteriorated to a point that it was no longer safe. In 1992, the people of Union Center and surrounding areas held a barn raising for the new Central Meade County Community Center, which serves as a gathering place still today.
In 1962, at the height of the cold war, the landscape of Union Center changed considerably. The Boeing Aircraft Company came to town, leasing 13 acres at Union Center, and establishing a main base for installing nuclear missile sites. Union Center’s population increased over ten fold nearly overnight, and the village grew from twenty to two hundred twenty residents. The company set up living quarters, office buildings, warehouses and kitchens. The new operation provided new opportunities for those living in the area and many residents from around Meade County commuted to work each day. Soon the company had built five control centers in Mud Butte, Stoneville, Hereford, White Owl and Opal. In the mid 1970’s Boeing returned to update the missiles. The cold war eventually ended and the missiles have since been demolished.
Union Center’s annual Ranch Rodeo is a unique tradition that local families enjoy.. The event features competitions for all ages. These are not professional Rodeo competitors, but instead people from the area who actively work on ranches. The Ranch Rodeo is attended by many area ranch families who compete – about 300 attend with 60 kids competing in morning event and 45 adults in the afternoon.
____________________________________
Don't miss Greetings from Union Center, Thursday, November 16th at 7 p.m. (8 Central) on SDPB TV-1, Facebook and YouTube. You can catch up on past seasons of Dakota Life HERE.